“A Statement of Our Shared Values”: Faculty Senate Reflects on DEI Resolution

 Eric M. Ramírez-Weaver, speaking during the Faculty Senate meeting, expressed gratitude for the collaborative process behind the recently passed DEI resolution. He emphasized that the statement reflects not only the Senate's position, but also the collective values of the faculty.

“We just wanted to take a brief moment to thank everyone for all of the input and the energy… when back on March 21 we formalized the final language as a unit.

He praised the process as both participatory and forward-looking:

“That was a wonderful statement on behalf of our Faculty Senate that also demonstrated our solidarity and desire to not only get this right but also to think toward the future.”

Ramírez-Weaver closed by highlighting the shared ownership of the resolution.

“This is all and only a statement to reflect our shared values… we definitely wanted to make sure that we underscored our gratitude to each and every one of you.”

Some may recall that in February, Ramírez-Weaver, the chair of the Faculty Senate’s DEI Committee was exploring potential “workarounds” to maintain race-based preferences and DEI initiatives on campus. He noted the aim was to identify “how new recruiting techniques can be done post the Harvard decision,” referring to the Supreme Court's 2023 ruling that deemed race-based preferences in admissions unconstitutional. The UVA Office of Admissions has "workarounds" to prioritize "diversity" over merit.